North Queensferry coastal circuit

From directly under the Forth Rail Bridge this route follows a lovely section of the Fife Coastal path until it heads inland to return on a road. An interesting mix of coast, wildlife and industrial landscape.

Terrain

Clear coastal path, roads with pavements.

Public Transport

Train and bus to North Queensferrry.

Start

Battery car park, North Queensferrry. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

Users' reports

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Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Walk Statistics

Distance

5.25km / 3.25 miles

Time

2 hours

Ascent

101m (Profile)

Start Grid Ref

NT131805

Mapping and GPS

Walk Description

Stage 1

The walk starts from the centre of the small settlement of North Queensferry, where there is a rail station and good bus service. The village takes its name from ferry set up by Queen Margaret in the 11th century to travel between Dumfermline and Edinburgh Castle. There is also a free car park on Battery Road, next to the water, almost under the rail bridge - this is locked overnight between 6.30pm and 9am. From here walk back along Battery Road and then right along Main Street to reach the Waterloo Monument at the junction of Main Street (B981) and Old Kirk Road, opposite the Ferrybridge Hotel. To get here from the train station turn right then left downhill.

Stage 2

The monument is a stone gable end with a carving of a ship dated 1816, behind it is the Waterloo well, used as a watering stop for horses undertaking stagecoach journeys. The well was the only one in the village and the iron plate above it depicts a fishwife arguing with a sailor, who both would have needed to use the water supply. From here the walk joins the Fife Coastal Path, a long distance route stretching from Kincardine to Newburgh. Keep on the main path, soon reaching Carlingnose Point which has excellent views back over the rail bridge and is a wildlife reserve.

Stage 3

Continue through the old quarry, keeping right at a fork to stay on the main path. Note the 'Grand Designs'-style house perched above the rockface. The area provides a lime-rich grassland habitat for rare plants such as Field Gentian and Bloody Cranesbill. Fulmar and other seabirds nest on the cliffs and it is sometimes possible to see whales in the Firth of Forth although sightings of grebes, other divers, and sea ducks are more likely. When the path splits keep right to head downhill to the sandy beach at Port Laing. Across Inverkeithing Bay the houses of Dalgety Bay can be seen.

Stage 4

Keep dogs under tight control as the path heads through scrubland before emerging on a lane and passing in front of a few houses. The route now heads inland around the industrial Inner Bay at Inverkeithing. The area behind here was used for extensive whinstone quarrying since 1828. Whinstone is a quatrz dolerite and rock from here was used to build Liverpool and Leith docks, the Forth and Clyde canals as well as London pavements. Follow the path over a metal bridge and then between fences and around the side of an industrial site, keeping right at the gate to follow Cruickness Road.

Stage 5

Pass some houses on the left and then the entrance to an industrial site on the right. At the junction turn left onto Ferryhills Road to pass the Comfort Store and gently climb, passing a couple of houses on the left, cross to the far side of the road to stay on the pavement and pass banks of gorse, or whin, on both sides of the road. Further on the quarry pit can be seen to the left side and then there are views over the Firth of Forth. At the crest of the hill the first houses of North Queensferry are passed and just before the road bends right the distinctive shape of the Forth Rail Bridge comes into view. The railway station is on the right but to return to the car park continue down Ferryhills Road and into Main Street to reach Battery Road.

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